Fees to fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)* are due August 1, 2016 from employers that sponsor certain self-insured health plans, including health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) that are not treated as excepted benefits.  The PCORI  fee applies from 2012 to 2019. The fee is due based on plan/policy years ending on or after October 1, 2012, and before October 1, 2019. 

For plan years ending on or after October 1, 2015 and before October 1, 2016, the fee for an employer sponsoring an applicable self-insured plan is $2.17 ($2.08 for plan years ending on or after October 1, 2014 and before October 1, 2015) multiplied by the average number of lives covered under the plan.

Permissible methods for determining the average number of lives covered under a plan, as well as examples, are explained in IRS guidance and final regulations.

Fees are reported and paid using IRS Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return. In general, plan sponsors of applicable self-insured health plans are required to report and pay the fee no later than July 31st of the calendar year immediately following the last day of the plan year to which the fee applies.However, because July 31st falls on a Sunday this year, the due date is August 1, 2016.